Sorry you are going through all that
@JoKalsbeek. Nothing is ever black and white. And so it is with drug medications. For sure, minor drug side effects are very common and nothing to worry about. Do the side effects out way the risks of not taking them? That's the big question and a major consideration for your health care team. Some side effects are very serious, even life threatening. Not everybody reacts to drugs the same way. If we read the list of possible side effects on the drug information pamphlets you will see them listed in tiny print, they are there, ranging from very minor, a bit of tummy upset, to this drug may cause death. These drug companies cover their bases. The pharmacist should be there to run through the possible side effects and what to expect. And so they should. I always google a drug if it's one I haven't taken before. I am sure you do too. As for your family telling you to stick with it. Well that's all fine and dandy if the drug is causing minor side effects, but in no way should one keep taking a drug if it is causing potentially serious side effects. I'm not a medical professional, but if it was me, and I had breathing issues or kidney problems on a drug I would stop taking them and contact my Dr. And it is definitely one for your Dr.
We have spoken about ADHD drug side effects earlier in your thread. I stopped my ADHD non stims due to vasoconstriction issues, now I'm on Bupropian. I tolerate it well, and it does have side effects, one of those side effects is, it helps with ADHD! Which is why it was prescribed off label for me. It is primarily prescribed as an antidepressant. The other side effect being it raises insulin production by inhibit ing KATP channel activity in pancreatic β-cell membranes and induces insulin secretion. Another bonus for me. It is having a significant effect was on my background insulin. I went from a steady 6mmol/l night time base line to 4mmol/l. I note it is slowly rising again so maybe that effect is short lived, else my blood sugars are rising because of other factors. I am very fortunate as i do not suffer with depression so it had nothing to do with my mood. So it really does come down to what effects those side effects have on your body, we are all diferent. I am sure you know all this, but sometimes it helps to hear it from someone else who gets it.
Ed to add this: I had a very serious reaction taking Guanfacine as an ADHD drug. I took just one tablet and my blood pressure dropped so low I thought I was going to passout. Suffice to say I did only take one and contacted my Dr.
You know, I did check side effects, but not of the Bu... Because I've had so many anti-depressants through the years, I wrongly assumed that I knew what my main side effects were going to be: migraines and vomiting. So I hoarded triptans ahead of time to combat the migraines, and considered myself well-prepared. But with my nurse's abject terror when it comes to giving me something else, I thought I'd read up some more. And as it turns out, chemically speaking, Bu's a lot like a stimulant, besides an anti-depressant. Ah. I wish she'd just tell me what her concerns are! I'd still like to try, mind you... So I'm hoping the professor she's contacting'll give the all-clear, and otherwise I can still talk to my GP about it. We'll see. Will still have to wait a while to try anything, couple of weeks at least, but now I know. But really, every time she seems really scared, and won't tell me why, it doesn't really inspire a whole lot of confidence. And I don't always know in what area her concerns lie, and I'm not House M.D. (though I do connect medical dots rather quickly). It'd be so much more straight forward if she'd just talk to me and let me in on her thought processes. It's my body and mind we're discussing, I'd like to have all the information before I yea or nay anything.
To be honest though, while I will try anything I am offered still, I don't believe medication'll be my route, after all. Supplements, maybe... If they don't trigger constant migraines. But I'm just going to read as much as I can about both ADHD and Autism, and see what works for others... In loopholes, hacks, tips and tricks, because there have to be work-arounds for this. It does mean having to accept I'll have to, for instance, cancel out my husband as well as all the other sounds in overwhelming surroundings. Noise cancelling headphones will work on him too, not just on screaming kids at a zoo, alas. And I so enjoy spending time with him, it hurts to lock him out with the rest of the sounds. And I keep thinking it's weird I can get into a deathly panic when practically harmless noise gets too much, but when I'm literally suffocating with no-one around to help me, I'm dead-calm. Almost indifferent. Now that I know what having a relatively peaceful mind could be like, not be barraged by everything, all the time... I hate having to let go of the idea that it could be sustainable. If I end up finding something, great, and I won't stop looking either, but... I think I'd better accept that some things aren't meant for me, and start working on making adjustments to make my life a bit more, well... Liveable. And less of a never-ending hell, really.
Considering Guanfacine and many other options are (seemingly?) not available in the Netherlands at the moment, who knows.... One day. But for the moment I think I have to adjust my expectations down, and start looking for other crutches to keep me from falling over on my face every day. And keep an eye on things that are new on the Dutch market.
Ah, what a mess, so far. It's certainly a journey!
Thanks for everything,
Jo